Is the 2005 Ford Taurus a bad year?
773 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 123, 12× a quiet Taurus year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 62k–101k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 Taurus owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 528 (68%) | 71k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 123 (16%) | 62k–101k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 106 (14%) | 70k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 41 (5%) | 74k–120k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 36 (5%) | 77k–135k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 28 (4%) | 57k–102k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 27 (3%) | 48k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 22 (3%) | 52k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 12 (2%) | 36k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 773 complaints: 40 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle came to a stop, then lost all drive and reverse. No warning or noises detected. Possible problem might be striped splines in torque converter of transmission.
I was stopped at a traffic light and as I began to move off to make a right hand turn the car immediately began to pick up sped without me pushing down on the accelerator.
Transmission failed with no waning. Vehicle stopped moving on highway in traffic. No forward or reverse gears.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Ford Taurus: 1
These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 3
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Ford Taurus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Stuck throttle
Engine stalling ffv
Neighbouring years
2004 Taurus: 375 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2006 Taurus: 318 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Taurus year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Taurus years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Ford Taurus a bad year?
773 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 123, 12× a quiet Taurus year. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 62k–101k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Taurus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: speed control (528), transmission and drivetrain (123), engine (106), fuel system (41), brakes (36). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 62k–101k miles.
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Taurus have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 16E026000). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.